National Honey Bee Day

National Honey Bee Day (formerly National Honey Bee Awareness Day) is an awareness day when beekeepers, beekeeping clubs and associations, and honey bee enthusiasts from across the United States celebrate honey bees and recognize their contribution to humans' everyday lives as a means of protecting this critical species. National Honey Bee Day also pays homage to beekeepers, whose labors ensure there are well-managed, healthy bees to pollinate crops.

National Honey Bee Day
SignificanceHonoring honey bees and beekeepers
DateThird Saturday in August
2019 dateAugust 17  (2019-08-17)
2020 dateAugust 15  (2020-08-15)
2021 dateAugust 21  (2021-08-21)
2022 dateAugust 20  (2022-08-20)
Frequencyannual

According to its organizers, the National Honey Bee Day program started with a simple concept:[1]

Bring together beekeepers, bee associations, as well as other interested groups to connect with the communities to advance beekeeping. By working together and harnessing the efforts that so many already accomplish, and [by] using a united effort one day a year, the rewards and message is magnified many times over. We encourage bee associations, individuals, and other groups to get involved. The program is free and open to all.

The event was started in 2009 by a small group of beekeepers who petitioned for and obtained a formal proclamation[2] by the USDA honoring honey bees and beekeeping. In 2010, a non-profit, Pennsylvania Apiculture Inc. was organized[3] to better facilitate and promote the observance. The original date of observation was August 22, 2009 (the fourth Saturday of August), but has since settled permanently on the third Saturday of August.

National Honey Bee Day is managed by HoneyLove.org, a Los Angeles-based honey bee educational non-profit.

References
  1. "National Honey Bee Day statement of purpose". Penn Apic Inc. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
  2. Vilsack, Tom (August 20, 2009). "National Honey Bee 'Awareness' Day". USDA Office of Communications. Retrieved August 14, 2012. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Proclaims Aug. 22 as the First National Honey Bee Awareness Day
  3. "History of the National Honey Bee Day". Penn Apic Inc. Retrieved August 18, 2012.

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